Bathinda, June 10: The municipal plan to move the Bathinda bus stand out of the urban center has encountered fierce resistance from local civic bodies and trade unions over public health and accessibility concerns. The Bus Stand Bachao Sangharsh Committee reconvened on Wednesday, declaring that any attempt to transition the public transport hub to the toxic wasteland of the former Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant would trigger massive state-wide demonstrations.
The alliance affirmed that the existing facility provides optimal geographic connectivity for lakhs of regular travelers who depend on quick transitions to nearby hospitals and schools. Group coordinators stated that developing a commercial transit hub and housing sector on top of untreated industrial coal ash compromises basic environmental safety standards.
“The existing bus stand is very convenient for lakhs of people due to its proximity to colleges, hospitals, courts and railway station,” Committee President Baltej Singh Vander affirmed during the joint organizational meeting. “By moving it out of the city, patients, students, elderly and daily commuters will have to face additional expenses and difficulties.”
Vander stated that the toxic remnants embedded within the proposed site’s soil structure pose severe physiological risks to the population. He noted that the heavy metals present in the residual coal ash are scientifically linked to long-term physical ailments, including chronic kidney disease and developmental issues in younger demographics.
The participating unions asserted that the administration must prioritize urban convenience and human health over speculative real estate adjustments. The committee stated that a formal warning has been issued to municipal planners regarding the potential breakdown of public order if the current urban terminal is dismantled.
The meeting featured prominent community figures, including Democratic Rights Sabha representative Malkit Singh, Youth Congress member Arshvir Sidhu, and Shopkeepers Union coordinator Sandeep Agarwal. The unified front stated that local business owners and transport operators are fully aligned to legally and physically block any attempts to shift the operational base of the local bus network.
